Tennis racket



' Jan. 27, 1931.

Filed Nov. 5, 1928 75 a5 a ,0} 0 w A & f 47 M Patented Jam 27, 1931 v I i V Y UNITED STATES; mam tw ce a l JACOB L. KLEINMAN, on NEW iz'onx, 1 1. 1.

TENNIS 'RACKET I 7 if I j i ecaaan filed November 5, 1 92s. sen-a1 317,198. This inventionrelates generally totennis theisquareshaped opening 12in'the handle rackets. In the ordinary tennis racket there 11; This shank 16 is disposed in saidopenis no means for adjusting the tension onthe ing 12and is" adapted to move axially of the: strings comprising the playing field of the handle,,and is provided with a reduced por- I61 racket withthe result that the strings are tion 1;? at its lowermostend. Mountedon 55 always under a strain. Again in the ordisaid reduced portion 17 is a metal sleeve "18 nary racket, the mounting of the'str'ing on which is provided with-exterior lefthanded the frame is such that openings are needed screw threads19. The sleeve is prevented along-the entireperipheryof the frame from from turning relative to the reduced porthe top to the neck portion thereof thereby tion 17 by means of a pin 20 passingthrough i I weakening said frame at the neck portion. said sleeve and reduced portion. Awasher" Furthermore, in the ordinary racket, when 21 ,having a central opening 22: is'screwed' the ball strikes on oneside of the center of to the lowermostedge of the, handle 11' and the playing field in a hard manner, it is likewhen in operative position as is shown in ly to turn the racket in the hands of-the user- Figure 3, the sleeve 18 passesfreely through It is a primaryobject of the present invene the opening 22 of said washer. The washer" tion to permit adjustment of the strings com- 21 is embedded in a cut out portion of'the l prising the playing field. Another object is handle and is substantially flush with the to prevent turning of the racket in the hands lower edge of said handle when so positioned of the user. A still further object is to as appears fromFigure 3. 1 a T strengthen the racketat the point where the Adapted to be mounted'on the endof. the frame and handle meet. A more specific obhandle 11 is an extension or member 23, the ject is to permit ready access to the string outer contour of which is similar in shape to for the purpose of mounting the same. that of said handle 11 and theinterior of i Other objects and advantages of the 'in- V which isformed witha central opening 24 of vention will appear from the description to the same shape as the opening 12 and adapted follow taken in connection with theaccom -i to. align therewith when i said member is panying drawing in which a mounted on the handle as will be noted from Figure 1 is a front view of the improved Figure 3. A tube 25 having" internal right racket. I a I handed screw threads-26 and a flange portion .Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, ofa 27 is positioned within the opening 24, the modified form of handle for the racket. flange portion 27- being embedded in a cut- Fig ure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary verti- P out portion in the top edge of the membercal sectional view of the end portion of'th'e 23 to position the same substantially flush 35 handle. v i r with said top edge. A pin 28 I passing The improved .racket illustrated in the through the member 23 and tube 25 prevents drawing comprises a frame 10 and handle thelatter from turning relative tosaid-memtherefor, indicated generally at 11, which her. Th'e lower end of thevextension memhandle is provided with a hollow central, her is finished off by means of a leather poropening 12, square shaped in cross section. tion orcap29 which is'glued or otherwise se- The playing field within the frame consists cured thereto thereby providing a soft and of longitudinal and transverse strings 13 and convenient gripping ,means for the hand 14, respectively, formed of gutor silk or any While operating the extension member and: other suitable material. An important feaalso to prevent the racketfrom slipping out ture of this invention is means; for adjusting of the hand of the player during the game. 9d the tension of these strings 13 and 14. -This With particular reference to Figure 1, it I means includes a fan-shaped or bridge bear-' will be noted that the lower ends of thefour ing member 15 provided with an elongated centrally disposed longitudinal strings. 13 shank 16, square shaped in cross section but pass through. longitudinal openings 30 0 smaller in diameter than the diameter of formed in the bearing member 15 and that the string 13 on either side of said four central strings pass aroundthe periphery of the shoulder 31 on each side of said member 15, all six strings then passing through a tranverse opening 32 formed in the upper part or" the shank 14. It will be noted that owing to the shape of'the member andits'position relative to the frame 10, an opening 3-3 is provided between said parts permitting the airto pass therethrough when swinging. the racket and also permitting ready'acc'ess'to the strings for adjusting, repairing or anyfother purpose desired. 7

Another important featureof the-present invention is embodied in the handle '11. This handle llterininates at-its upper end 'in wings I orshoulders-34 saidshoifilders adapted to.

' overlie the lower edge ot 'the frame 10 th ereby reinforcing the frame at'this' point. Be= tween the shoulders" 34? ie handle is provided with a"dished out portirin indicated "at thereby enlarging the said opening 38. At

its lower end ata p'oin t about where the ban, dle is gripped by the user, oneside thereof is {formed with -corrugatiins '36 to permit the fingers or other part ofthehand to obtain a gri In the modified forin ofhandle sho'wnin igure'Q,corrugationsia'i are to'rmedthere- V on entirelyaroundits periphery and not only on one side thereof as in the handle in Figure 'l.- z i In using theimproved racket; if it is desi'red to tightenthestrings-13Fand 14; the eX-' tension member 23 is turned to the right,

which turning by rea'soihbf the engagement 7 of the sleeve 18 and tube 25 di'aws the shank 16 lwith'the' bearing member 115' downwardly with a*con'sequent pu'llon the si'x string's 'ca r ri ed by the member 15. y reason of the mounting ofsaidsi X strings on the member 15 this is a straight downward pull and results-in a-tightening-ofall of'thestrings comprising the playing fieldi' The downward movement of the'membe r 15 is'limited by. reason of the should-ers-erenga ingthe frame 10. While only six strings are-shown carried by the member 15*thereby placing the lowermost opening in the periphery of the frame at the point indic'ated'at 39, it will be' understood thatthe" number of strings car-[ ried'thereby will depend upon the size of said member andthe'more-strings carried by' saidl member the higher thepoint on'the frame-at which the lowermost opening will appear;

" A turn of the'member 23 tothele'ft will permit thestrings to loosen and the member 15' to returnto the position indicated by the dot and dash line 38 the hollow centralbpenber lfi beingofsquare shapein cross section will prevent side movements or turning of shank 16 in openingl2 during operation, thereby preventing the twisting of the strings,- but will only permit the up or down mo'vementsotsuch shank in said opening,

drawingand referred to in the above descriptionis' the"niost"efii'cient and practical, yet

ivdesireto emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction, proportions: and arrangement of parts may be resorted to when required without sacrificingany or" the advantages off-myinvention as definedin the appended 'claims 1 11 In a racket, af f'r d that the corrugations am'e' having" strings mounted therein, a handle, said handle-be ingformed with a centra l longitudinal open'-- 1 ing, a shank disposed"in said opening, said central opening andsaid shanlrbeing square shaped-in cross section; said shanlrbeing icon nectedto-one or more-of 'said'strings, and means for 7 adjusting the shank longitudinal} ly-in said opening to vary-'the tensionofsuchstrings; i V 2 In a raeketya fram'e, a-handle'having an opening, abridgeportionjforminga string. tensioningdevicemounted in said frame, a shank extending from"said'bridge'portion into said opening and operatively connected" to an extensionmemberpforniing-a part of" said handle',"said"bridge' portion andsaid shank provided: with openingsto receive-- stringsv p 3; In a rac'liet', a fiame,'--a hahdlehaving an opening; a bridge portion forming string tensioning device mounted in" said frame, a shank extending from said bridge portion] into" said opening and 'oper'a'tively' connected to an extension member formin -w partiof said handle, said shank providedwith an opening to receive strings and said bridge 1 portion provided with openings to keep said stringsapa-rt from e'ach'other. 4; A tennis racket comprising a fran ie, a handle therefor, a plurality of strings mounted within said frame, an anchoring member for one'or moreof saidstrings inov-, ableto varyin tension of sueh strings; said anchoring member provided {with a plur-alityof openings for receiving; said strings inspa'ced relation, and movable means prov-iding an extension'of the handle surface and in screw threaded connection with said anchoring membefto adjust the latter longitudina-lly of said frame.

5. A tennis racket comprising a frame, a hollow handle, a plurality of strings mounted within said frame, an anchoring member connected to certain ofsaidstrings andunovable longitudinally of said frame to vary the V movable means providing an extension of the rigid sh ank disposed in the hollow of said handle and movable axially thereof, and

handle surface and in screw threaded engagement with said shank for moving the,

same. 7

6. A tennis racket comprising a frame, a

hollow handle therefor, a pluralityiof strings threaded tube carried by said rotatable ele-.

ment and adapted to engage said sleeve.

7. In a racket, a frame having a throat portion, strings positioned within said frame, a handle, a bridge member anchoring certain of said strings and positioned in said throat portion, a shank attached to said bridge member, an extension member forming a part of said handle and providing an extension of the handle surface and in screw threaded engagement with the bottom end of said shank. 8. Ina racket, a frame having a plurality of strings mounted therein, a hollow handle,

a shank connected with one or more of said strings and movable to vary the tension therei of, said shank and the bore of said handle being of angular cross-section throughout at least a portion of their length, whereby angular movement of the shank is prevented, and means for moving said shank longitudinally. 9. In a racket, a frame having a plurality of strings mounted therein, a hollow handle, a shank connected with one or more of said strings and movable to vary the tension thereof, said shank and the bore of said handle being of non-circular cross-section through out at least a portion of their length,'and interfitting snugly at such portion, whereby angular and lateral movements of the shank are prevented, and means for moving said shank longitudinally.

' 10. In a racket, a frame having a. plurality of strings mounted therein, a hollow handle, a shank positioned in said handle and connected to one or more of said strings, means in screw threaded engagement with said shank for moving the latter longitudinally, said means forming a part of the handle and providing a portion of the outer surface thereof, said shank and the bore of said handle being angular in cross-section throughout at least a portion thereof, and said shank fitting snugly within such portlon of the handle and being thereby restrained against lateral movement.

11. In a racket, a frame having strings mounted therein, a hollow handle, a shank in said handle, said shankbeing connected at the shank andthebore iof sa id handle being of like non-circular cross section so as to permit-the up-and down movement ofsaid shan'l': in .thej bore of the handle'and fitting snugly 7 in. said bore toprevent lateral movement-of saidshank in said bore .upon operation of the extensionmember.

- 12., In a" racket,';a f-frame havin strings I mounted-therein, a handle having a long1tuj dinal square opening formed therein, a string tensioning device having a square shank and mounted in said frame, said: shank dlsposcd in said opening, and anextension member forming apart of said handle and providing a portion of the surfacethereo-f. and'operaively connected to said shank to move the same longitudinally.

13. In a racket, a frame, a handle having an opening, a bridge portion forming a string tensioning device mounted in said frame, said bridge portion having a shank extendin into said opening, and means for moving said shank longitudinally, said shank having a transverse opening for receiving one or more strings, and said bridge portion being pro vided with longitudinal openings for receiv ing the strings and holding the same in spaced relation.

14. r A tennis racket comprising a frame, a handle-therefor, a plurality of strings: mounted within said frame, an anchoring member for one or more" of said strings movable to vary the tension of such strings, movable means providing an extensionof the handle surface and connected tosaid anchoring memher to adjust the latter longitudinally of said frame, said. means comprising a tubular member, and a cap. providing a friction gripping surface closing the end of said tubular member and covering at least a portion of the outer surface of such member.

15. A tennis racket comprising a frame, a hollow handle therefor, a plurality of strings mounted, within said frame, an anchoring member for one or more of said strings movable within said handle to varyrthe tension of such strings, rotatable means providing an extension of the handle surface and connected to said anchoring member by a screw threaded tubular element to adjust the anchoring member longitudinally of said frame,

and a spacing element arranged between the opposing ends of thehandle and rotatable rotatable element to maintain such ends in spaced relation.

signature.

17. A- racketjcomprising a frame, a; hollow} hendle therefor, strings-mounted within said; frame, an anchoring member ior oneor more of said strings movablewithin, jaidhandle to vary the tension of; such; string a. movable;

member providing an extension of the handle 4 surface, said movable member formed;,Wiill an opening, means; arranged Within. saidgj opening at one end ofsaidvmovable member! to engageone. endof said anchoring member? to adjust the latter long'itndinallysofflsaid fI211'i'lE,'1Ild'il cap providing a friction gripping surface covering-the other endand also at least a portion of the outergsurface of such movable member.

In itness whereof, I hGIeURtOfijifiX JACOB n, rtnninirnn.

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